On the Approach to the Substantiation of Optimal Operation Mode of a Production Room Ventilation System, Considering the Excess of Maximum Permissible Concentration of Harmful Substances

An urgent problem of the optimization of operation mode of general ventilation systems at industrial enterprises involving the emission of harmful substances in order to minimize the system’s energy consumption with guaranteed compliance with regulatory requirements for the air quality (non-excess of maximum permissible concentrations of harmful substances in conditions of variable factors: the intensity of emission of harmful substances, the cost of electricity, and the temperature of outdoor air) is considered. A mathematical formulation of the problem as a conditional optimization problem with a target function describing the operational cost and a system of constraints based on the equation for harmful substance concentration has been proposed. A two-level solution algorithm that combines numerical modelling of concentration dynamics with the Lagrange multiplier method to optimize fan performance in real time has been developed. A calculation example for a workshop with a volatile organic compound source, showing the economic benefits of using adaptive control, has been provided. As demonstrated, the transition from the constant to the optimal variable mode can reduce energy costs, depending on the emission schedule. The results of the study are practically significant for the design and modernization of ventilation systems with elements of intellectual control at engineering, chemical, and woodworking enterprises.